Google's Next Android TV Dongle Revealed By The FCC: 4K Support, Assistant Voice Control, And More

A new Google device, which is possibly a new Android TV dongle that includes Google Assistant, drops by the FCC for certification.

A couple of photos were said to be included with the documents submitted to the regulatory office. It is surprising to see a new Android TV OS-powered device now that newer smart TVs already have features that do not need the help of external dongles.

Anyway, it safe to assume that there might be some users who still rely on older televisions. Therefore, the company wants to give them a chance to try out what the new platform can offer.

Voice Controls

The company released its fair share of streaming dongles but this is the first time a device comes with voice control. Its remote controller pairs to the device via Bluetooth and comes with a dedicated button to activate the digital assistant.

The previous models of its streaming devices were also updated to support the complete set of commands recognized by the system. The photos submitted to the FCC have revealed an updated interface akin to what the manufacturer showcased during last Year's Google I/O event.

Hardware And Design

The yet unnamed Android TV dongle is broken down into its components, which are listed down for the FCC. It comes with a quad-core Amlogic S905X SoC paired with a Mali-405 GPU together with a 2 GB RAM. Wireless connectivity includes Bluetooth 4.1 and a dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac standard.

Its user manual confirms that it is capable of 4K with 60 frames-per-second which is presumably buffered by its CPU and GPU. An 8 GB internal memory space is allocated for software updates and more.

Another notable thing about the unannounced gadget is its shape. Previous Chromecast dongles sported a uniform circular shape just like the Chrome logo. However, the new one bears a shape that is reminiscent of a light bulb or some would call a balloon. It is yet unknown if it would be the final design as some manufacturers usually send out prototype designs, which are eventually fine-tuned to something more appealing.

Manufacturing, Distribution, Price, And Availability

Records show that the FCC filing for the new Android TV dongle was done by Shenzen SEI Robotics Co LTD. It is most likely the manufacturer that Google tapped to produce the devices when the go-signal was given.

As it stands, the streaming device might be formally announced during this year's Google I/O event in May. Its price is estimated to be $49.99 to $69.99 when it hits retailers.